Camille Naredo

Children play on a pontoon at Boracay's White Beach on October 25, 2018 on the eve of the island's reopening to tourists. 

Children play on a pontoon at Boracay's White Beach on October 25, 2018 on the eve of the island's reopening to tourists. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Boracay's White Beach

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) on Monday reminded local government units to have ordinances that would protect children from online sexual abuse, saying there are laws and policies that mandate localities to be child-friendly.CWC Executive Director Angelo Tapales noted that in 2022, only 372 out of 1,634 local government units were considered child-friendly. But this year, he said the figure rose to 1,091, admitting that the country still has a &quot;long way to go.&quot;CWC is part of the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure that LGUs are child-friendly. &quot;Ngayon po since may directive ang Pangulo, iyan ay nakasama na doon sa 2025 guidelines and LGUs now are really mandated to have [Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children] ordinances, have OSAEC-trained people para kapag may nagsumbong bata at mga magulang and of course iyong mga referral mechanisms nila kailangan mayroon sila at iyan po kasi tsini-check na doon sa audit,&quot; Tapales said in a public briefing. The undersecretary said his council is coordinating with the Department of Justice, Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation in combatting cases of online sexual abuse among children.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/21/dutch-national-arrested-for-sexual-exploitation-in-caloocan-city-1919">READ: NBI rescues 5 alleged victims of online sexual exploitation; female suspect arrested</a></div>They are also working with the Department of Education (DepEd) to prevent bullying in schools and to make sure that children feel safe.  &quot;Maganda ang cooperation ng lahat, buhay na buhay ang National Coordination Center on OSAEC and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM),&quot; he said. &quot;We are closely partnering with them because of course we are promoting, and DepEd is really working on this, iyong quality of education they want to improve it but children of course cannot focus on education if they are not safe in our schools,&quot; he added. More than these though, he said families also have a role in ensuring their children are safe and free from abuse in their own homes.&quot;Bilang mga magulang tayo po ang unang nagbabantay sa ating mga anak, iyong mga tagapangalaga po ng bata,&quot; he said. &quot;Inaabot po namin ang mga magulang, we are creating awareness because most of the violence against children reported with the PNP really are corporal punishment or being done by some, alam mo na, misguided parents na medyo sinasaktan nang todo-todo ang mga bata in the name of discipline,&quot; he added. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/child-victims-of-violent-crimes-entitled-to-compensation-under-doj-dswd-agreement-1525">READ: Child victims of violent crimes entitled to compensation under DOJ-DSWD agreement</a></div>Tapales said CWC and other government agencies are strengthening measures to protect children from threats coming from the internet, noting the &quot;advent of technology and the digital age.&quot; &quot;Ang threat ay nandiyan talaga…  We are now partners also with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, and the NBI, isa sa unang partner ng Makabata Helpline 1383 iyan,&quot; he said. &quot;So, tulung-tulong po talaga. We need to reach them at the soonest possible time because they need to know that children have rights and, of course, we have to protect them,&quot; he said.In far-flung areas, he said, local government units have big roles to fill when it comes to information dissemination about child protection programs, but noted that they are using technology to reach more parents. Every November, the Philippines observes the National Children&#x27;s Month, which is based on Republic Act No. 10661. The country is also a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and had this human rights treaty ratified on August 21, 1990.

The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) on Monday reminded local government units to have ordinances that would protect children from online sexual abuse, saying there are laws and policies that mandate localities to be child-friendly.

The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) on Monday reminded local government units to have ordinances that would protect children from online sexual abuse, saying there are laws and policies that mandate localities to be child-friendly.

LGUs reminded on ordinances protecting children from online sexual abuse, exploitation

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LGUs reminded on ordinances protecting children from online sexual abuse, exploitation

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 03, 2025 04:13 PM PHT

Read More:

online sexual abuse

exploitation

children

OSAEC

CWC

Council for the Welfare of Children

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